Link of article: https://www.reuters.com/world/greece-iran-agree-release-two-greek-tankers-seized-by-tehran-2022-11-16/
In response to the confiscation of oil by the United States from an Iranian-flagged tanker off the Greek coast in April, Iran detained Greek flagged tankers in May. Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the two Greek seized tankers were released as well as the seized Iranian flagged tanker under agreement between Iran and Greece. All creating more bilateral tension and deterioration between the West and Iran. Concluding to a signage of a memorandum in cooperation for improved maritime security between the two countries.
Iran is branded as a state sponsor of terrorism. There are international sanctions placed on Iran, for example the sanction placed on Iranian oil which allows the United States to legally stop the commerce. Greece was just following the sanctions placed on Iran, as Greece is apart of NATO. Due to said sanctions, Iran has a decrease in oil sales, which effects their economy greatly. Thus, Iran seized the Greek ships to put pressure on Greece to release the Iranian ships that were previously seized. Whoever owned the Greek flagged ship thought they could sneak around the sanctions. The signed memorandum establishing a better maritime security will most likely not be efficiently carried out due to Iran’s leaders being irrational.
In class we’ve discussed the theory of realism that hones the characteristic of humans making up states, thus states acting like humans looking out for their own self interest. We can identify that Iran will do what they deem as necessary to achieve and maintain power for their survival. Power is broken up into economic, military, technological, cultural and prestige viewpoints. Iran clearly felt economically threatened which leads to feeling overall threatened as a countries economy affects all those other aspects within power. Forcing them to take something equally as important to Greece in retaliation. As mentioned earlier, humans make up states, meaning it all lies upon the representatives/leaders. Iranian leaders are Muslim clerics (priests) who are very radical being heavily influenced by their religion, therefore creating instability with “deals” that could later potentially clash with their beliefs and morals.